This page was exported from Caledon Citizen [ https://caledoncitizen.com ] Export date:Wed Jul 3 23:25:04 2024 / +0000 GMT ___________________________________________________ Title: Bolton’s Cy Wallace celebrates memorable 90th birthday --------------------------------------------------- By Robert Belardi  On Sunday April 4, Cyril “Cy” Wallace received far more than phone calls for his 90th birthday. “All the kids, the grandchildren, the great-grandchildren. About eight cars passed by. We were all spread out with masks on and everything,” Wallace said.  Numerous cars passed by honking their horns. Someone put a sign that took up all of the front lawn that said “Happy 90 Birthday.” About 19 people from the Davis Centre where he volunteers came with a big sign with all of their names on it. A few people from the Wood Carvers community in Bolton who Wallace is also a part of attended.  “One thing after another happened all weekend. I got 119 cards with beautiful sentiments on it. Unbelievable,” Wallace said.  An optimist, Wallace says he enjoys life and amidst this time that we are all currently enduring. He musters the strength to be positive on an every day basis. Wallace and his wife, Ruth, still live in Bolton. They had four children together with their eldest sadly passing away at 44. They are blessed with numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.  A commercial artist all of his life, Wallace moved to Bolton when he was just a baby. He attended Bolton Continuation School, and after high school attended some night classes at Danforth Tech.  He received his first apprenticeship with Clem Saila Advertising. Afterwards he went to Templeton Studios apprenticing for four years, followed Odeon Theatres, as well as Vickers and Benson.  At Vickers and Benson his truly began freelancing. Ruth and Wallace were given the experience to travel Canada. Wallace sketched Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg and two series of Toronto.  He worked at so many agencies. He met all kinds of great people in his life. He went on to spend nine-and-a-half-years there. He even won the prestigious OBIE award presented by the Art Directors of Toronto along the way in 1957 for his contribution as a mechanical artist in commercial advertising.  “I went to a lot of freelance places. But one thing I never did, a lot of people to extend their pays they bargained with people. I somehow couldn't do that. If people came after me I didn't use it for a pay rise I went because they wanted me,” Wallace emphasized.  In his life's journey following his work, Wallace came back to work locally. He was supposed to receive a very good deal working in Toronto, however with the deal falling through, owner of the Caledon Citizen John Archibald saved him.  Then the Enterprise came calling a year later. He took that job until he turned 65 years old and retired.  Another memorable moment came when he was asked to sketch the centennial flag of Bolton. He moved here when there were only 600 people living in the town.  One resident wanted to design a hooked rug because her husband worked at the old mill in town. One was placed at the ball park in the centre of town (which is now missing) and the other is in Wallace's living room. The Mill was featured on the rug.  Recently, Wallace retired from the Laurel Hill Cemetery board. He was volunteering at the Davis Centre up until the pandemic began, speaking with elderly at the nursing home. He laughed when he said all of this keeps him young. He's been told plenty of times he doesn't look his age. Now at home, Wallace loves to garden and is preparing for the Summer season. He is cleaning up the backyard in preparation. He keeps a workbook of his journey. He took note of his story and keeps each page in a duo-tang. --------------------------------------------------- Images: --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Post date: 2021-04-14 18:10:31 Post date GMT: 2021-04-14 22:10:31 Post modified date: 2021-04-22 11:27:43 Post modified date GMT: 2021-04-22 15:27:43 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Export of Post and Page as text file has been powered by [ Universal Post Manager ] plugin from www.gconverters.com